The highly publicized trial of Park Lane High School senior Casey Campbell concluded Tuesday February 6, 2007. Campbell was acquitted of the lesser charge of California Penal Code 375 for putting an offensive substance in a place of public assemblage. She was not acquitted of her three other charges, which included terrorism, attempt to explode or ignite an explosive with intent to murder, and possession of a video game in violation of the School Violence in Video Games statue.

Campbell was suspected of placing the suspicious-looking device found in a trash can at Park Lane High on April 7, 2006 by Detective Rory Riley of the Park Lane Police Department. Riley had been investigating a call she had received on the station’s anonymous tip line about the device. “I found a clear container holding a liquid. Taped around the container were a wristwatch, wires, and a metal igniter strip,” explained Riley.

The school was quickly evacuated and the device was sent to the lab for analysis.

“The next day, I was contacted by Sawyer Simpson and Jackie Jefferies,” said Riley. “Their information led me to view Casey Campbell as a suspect.”

Sawyer Simpson, another senior at Park Lane High had seen Campbell early at school the day of the incident near the dining patio where the device was found.

Jackie Jefferies, Campbell’s next-door neighbor had found disturbing artwork on Casey’s R-Space page, a popular social networking website. “There was a picture of the high school in flames, and a figure named Sawyer trying to escape,” explained Jefferies.

Riley conducted a search of Campbell’s home, and found more artwork, Campbell’s fingerprints on a can of paint thinner (which was part of the substance that made up the device), as well as a violent video game.

Jamie Jefferies, son of Jackie Jefferies and Campbell’s good friend stated, “Casey was bothered by the bullying she faced at school, so I encouraged her to use art as an outlet for her feelings.”

Cameron Cortez, Campbell’s school counselor explained, “Casey came to me in March and told me she was being picked on by Sawyer.”

Simpson is part of the popular group of seniors at school nicknamed The Crew. “We have a trademark of being the funny kids on campus,” explained Simpson. “We were just joking around with Casey.”

The jokes, however, bothered Casey. The Wednesday before the bomb incident, Simpson recalled, “We were hanging out after school, when Casey walked by and said, “You’ll be sorry you ever picked on me.”

The device was found near the dining patio, the place where The Crew met after school.

Dr. Kyle Killian, a bomb technician for the Park Lane Hazardous Device Unit, was directed by Riley to examine the device. “We determined that it was a simple but functional time bomb,” stated Killian.

The defense suggested that the device was merely a stink bomb. According to Dr. Avery Atkinson, a head scientist for a leading weapon’s manufacturer, the combination of the Doxene and paint thinner found in the device needed a steady flow of oxygen to create a possible explosion. “The device was found inside the trash can, where there is little oxygen. Whoever put this together created nothing more than an elaborate stink bomb,” said Atkinson.

Prosecution Attorney Maria Theophaneous argued that the violent drawings, location of the bomb, and threat were “more than mere coincidence.”

Judge Mary Ann O'Malley ruled Campbell guilty of the lesser charge because there was doubt that the device was a fully functional bomb.